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Chapter 29
”AndthentoAlan,withaspiceofdrollery,“Mr.Thomson,Ipayyoumycompliment;itwasmostartfullyconducted;butinonepointyousomewhatoutranmycomprehension.DoIunderstandyournametobeJames?orCharles?orisitGeorge,perhaps?”
“Andwhyshoulditbeanyofthethree,sir?”quothAlan,drawinghimselfup,likeonewhosmeltanoffence.
“Only,sir,thatyoumentionedaking’sname,”repliedRankeillor;“andastherehasneveryetbeenaKingThomson,orhisfameatleasthasnevercomemyway,Ijudgedyoumustrefertothatyouhadinbaptism.”
ThiswasjustthestabthatAlanwouldfeelkeenest,andIamfreetoconfesshetookitveryill.Notawordwouldheanswer,butsteppedofftothefarendofthekitchen,andsatdownandsulked;anditwasnottillIsteppedafterhim,andgavehimmyhand,andthankedhimbytitleasthechiefspringofmysuccess,thathebegantosmileabit,andwasatlastprevailedupontojoinourparty.
Bythattimewehadthefirelighted,andabottleofwineuncorked;agoodsuppercameoutofthebasket,towhichTorranceandIandAlansetourselvesdown;whilethelawyerandmyunclepassedintothenextchambertoconsult.Theystayedthereclosetedaboutanhour;attheendofwhichperiodtheyhadcometoagoodunderstanding,andmyuncleandIsetourhandstotheagreementinaformalmanner.Bythetermsofthis,myuncleboundhimselftosatisfyRankeillorastohisintromissions,andtopaymetwoclearthirdsoftheyearlyincomeofShaws
